Pumping system for player-pianos



R. W. SCOTT.

PUMPING SYSTEM FOR PLAYER PIA'NOS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-{8,1919- Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. W. SCOTT.

PUMPING SYSTEM FOR PLAYER PIANOS. APPLICAIAON HLE'D SEPT-18,1919.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAY W. SCOTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OF TWO-FIFTHS TO SCOTT PLAYER ACTION 00., OF RACINE, WISCON- SIN, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS, AND THBEE FIFTHS TO THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS,"

TRUSTEE.

PUMPING SYSTEM FOR PLAYER-PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 30, 19 21.

Application. filed'september 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,379.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RAY W. Soorr, acitizen of the United States, residing at New York city, State of New York, have invent ed a certain new and useful Improvement in Pumping Systems for Player-Pianos, of

which the following is a specification.

raised.

My invention relates to pumping systems for player pianos and like mechanism and the object of the invention is to provide means whereby the operator may, at will, accentuate any single note or groupof notes by -merely exerting a sudden pressure upon the treadle of either of the pumps. It is well understood. by those skilled in the art that anote will be-loud or soft in accordance with the degree of tension within the player action; and in carrying out my invention I have provided means for suddenly raising the tension within the player action by devising mechanism whereby the operator, by exerting a sudden stroke of extra force upon either treadle, may quickly raise the tension within the playeraction without waiting to'raise the tension throughout the entire pumping system. My pumping system includes the usual exhaust pumps and storage reservoirs but according to my invention it is not necessary to raise the tension to the desired degree throughout the entire pumping system. The reservoirs may be temporarily out off and the tension from the pumps applied'direct to the player action. In other words, in my mechanism the operator may, by suddenly pressing upon the treadles, short circuit the reservoirs, so to speak, and thus immediately get the benefit in the player action of the increased tension. In'the form shown, I accomplish this by interposing a normally open valve between the exhaust pump and the reservoir and arrange to close this valve by means of a diaphragm which becomes effective when the pump tension is suddenly Another object of the invention is to provide means for tempering or limiting the in-, tensity of the blow of the hammer on the strings. For this purpose I have, according to the design shown, backed up the valve by a spring capable of yielding when the pump tension exceedsa preordained minimum.

I accomplish my objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation in which the preferred commercial form'ofmy invention is installed. I

Fig. 2 is a plan section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1. a

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the diaphragm and tempering spring and associated parts.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view analogous to Fig. 2 showing a simplified form of the inventionz-especially as to the arrangement of the wind channels.

Like numerals denote like parts throughoutthe several views.

For commercial and practical reasons the design shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is preferableto the design shown in Fig. 4:. The

chief reason is that the valve mechanism is thus more readily a-cces'sible,-which facilitates inspection and repairs. This form will first be described, after which I will describe the form shown in Fig. 4 which is somewhat simpler and renders the principle of operation more obvious.

The player action and the pumping system which embodies my invention are adapted to be installed in the piano case 1. The player action itself need not be described, as any standard type may be employed. It will be suflicient for the present purpose to say that the tension for operating the player action is conveyed to it through the usual exhaust air from achannel or windchest 6,

in the manner well known in the art. Tube 2 communicates directly with this channel and hence there is intimate connection between the exhaust pumps and the tube. Storage reservoirs 7 are provided, these being constructed in the usual manner and serving the usual purpose.

According to the design shown in Fig. 2,

I provide a chamber 8, and for the sake of identification shall refer to this as a storage chamber and to the channel 6 a primary chamber. One wall 9 oi the storage chamber has a port 10 leading to a valve chamber 11. This valve chamber is, however, in reality a portion of the primary chamber 6 as it is at all times in communication with it. A duct 12 connects the valve chamber with the primary chamber 6. A duct 13 connects the storage chamber 8 with the reservoir 7. The port 10 is controlled by a valve 16 which is mounted upon a lever 17 and normally held open by a spring 19 or in any other suitable manner. The lever is pivoted to a stationary block 20. The accent valve 16 is controlled by a diaphragm 23 shown in detail in Fig. 3. This diaphragm is stretched over an opening' 24 in wall 9 and is backed up by a disk 26 fastened to a stem 27. Said stem passes loosely through an opening in lever 17 and is provided with a collar 28 fastened to the stem on the far side of the lever. A heli cal compression spring 30 is interposed between the disk and the lever. The result is that when the diaphragm moves outward toward the lever, it will, acting through the medium of the disk and spring, urge the lever in a direction to close the valve.

Operation: In practice, if the pumping system is operated in a normal manner the pumps 4 will exhaust air from the primary chamber and create air tension therein. [is the tube 2 is connected to said primary chamber, air tension will also be created in the tube and cause the normal operation of the player action. As the accent valve 16 is normally open, and as the storage chambers 7 are consequently normally in communication with the primary chamber through the ports and passages 10, 12 and 18, the tension in the storage chamber will normally correspond substantially to the tension in the primary chamber and tube 2. .l' ut the closing of the valve will shut the rese voir oil "from the primary chamber; and it is evi dent that it this val" is shut the tension in the tube will respond much more quickly to the variation in tension in the primary chamber. As a matter fact, with the SlL-Ol'iltl'fi reservoirs thus cut off or short circuitcd by the closure of valve 16, the tension in tube 2 will, practically spcakini'r. vary instantly in accordance with the variations in tension in the primary chainber. As the primary chamber (3 and valve chamber 11- are at all times in communication, they are, pneumatically speaking, one and the same'thing. In the form shown in Fig. 4., the valve, chamber, as such, is omitted and the valve is located in the primary chamber. But still referring; to the form shown in Fig.

2, if the operator suddenly exerts extra pressure upon either of the treadles 5,thetension valve.

will be suddenly raised in the primary chamher, and consequently in the valve chamber, and this tension acting upon the diaphragm tends to draw it in a direction. to close the With the valve closed and the storage reservoir 7 thus cut off, this sudden in" crease in the tension in the primary chamber will immediately have its ei'l'ect on the player action and will accent the note or group of notes being played at the time. Thus the operator has instant control through the treadles and may accent any note or group of notes at will by simply making a sudden stroke upon either or both oil? the treadles, The loud playing may be continued as long as desired by merely keeping: the tension in the primary chamber materially above the tension in the storage reservoir. As soon as the difference in tension is permitted to dccrease suiliciently, the valve will return to open position and the intensity of the tone will return to normal.

Undue loudness of tone or intensity oi? the blow of the hammers is prevented by the yielding connection between the di. air! the lever 17 It will be evident that it the operator permits the tension in the chamber G and ll to rise too higli, relatively to the tension in the reservoir '7, valve chan'ibcr ll. will open the valve in s pitcoi the tendency of the spring 30 to keep it closed. In other words, the y'ieldablc con nection between the accent valve and the din-- phr fgm which operates it prevents the difiierence in tension to rise above a predetermined mavimum and will be understood, of course, that the storage reservoirs are Iurn shed, as well known in the art, with safety valves which will prevent the tension in said reservoir from exceeding; a predetermined maximum.

From the foregoingit will be evident that as a result oi? my invention the operator, by properly manipulating the treadles themselves and without the assistance oi a y other mechanism, may accent any note or cup oi notes at will and at the same time excessive accentuation is automatically guarded against.

The practical advantage arising from form shown in Fig 2 is that itmakes it possible to mount the valve mechanism on the front or the wall 9 where it may be readily reached for inspection or repairs. the valve chamber is closed by The front oia removable cover 35, nd by simply rcmovinp; this cover, the parts are readily accessible from the front. In the term shown in Fiq. 2 the valve chamber, as a separate element, is omitted and the port 10 formed in a wall 9 which forms the front of the primary chamber 6 and the back of the storage chamber 8. Said store so chamber communicates with the reservoir 7 through a passage The valve mechanism th tension in remains mounted within the primary chamber 6 but its construction and principle of operation unchanged. In this simplified :iorm shown in 4; the rear wall or the primary chamber has an opening 40 formed in it to afford access to the valve mechanism. This opening is normally closed by means of a cover 41. r

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A pumping system for player actions having an exhaust pump, a storage chamber having a wall separating 1t from said pump,

the wall having a port passing through it, a tube communicating with the player action for actuating it, said tube communicating with the pump and communicating with the storage chamber through said port, a valve for controlling said port whereby when the valve is closed the tension in the duct will be generated directly from the exhaust pump and whenlsaid valve is open the tension in said duct will be modified by the degree of tension in said storage chamber, and a diaphragm. responsive to sudden changes of tension in. said exhaust pump for controlling the position of said valve.

2A pumping systemfor player actions having a primary chamber, an exhaust pump for creating tension therein, a. storage chamber having awall, the outer surface whereof assists in confining the body of air in the primary chamber, the wall having a port passing through it, a tube communicating with the player action for actuating it, said tube communicating with the primary chamher and communicating with the storage chamber through said port, a valve for controlling said port, said wall having a second opening, a diaphragm over said second opening, andmeans operated by said diaphragm for actuating said valve.

3. A player piano action having a high tension primary chamber communicating with the key operating mechanism, a pump for exhausting the air from said chamber, a storage chamber, a wall having on one side the high tension and the other side the low tension air, said wall having a port in it for normally equalizing the air tension in the two chambers, a valve, yieldable means for normally holding said valve open, and pneumatic means exposed on opposite sides to the high and low tension and adapted to close the valve in case of a sudden rise in tension in the primary chamber.

i. A pumping system for player actions having a duct leading to the player action for operating it, a storage reservoir for withdrawing air from said duct, a pump adapted to withdraw air both from the duct and the reservoir, valve mechanism for disconnecting the reservoir fromthe duct, and a dia phragm adapted to be influenced by the air tension createdby the pump for controlling said valve mechanism.

5. A pumping system for player actions having a duct leading to the player action for operating it, a storage reservoir for withdrawing air from said duct, a pump adapted .to withdraw air both from the duct and the reservoir, a valve for disconnecting the reservoir from the duct, and yieldable means for regulating the difference'in tension be tween the air in. said duct and the air in said reservoir. s

to its seat, whereby when the tension created by the pump becomes excessive it will cause the valve to recede from its seat.

7. A pumping system for player actions having a primary chamber, an exhaust pump for creating tension therein, a storage chamher havin a wall se aratin it from the, a r a: pr mary chamber, the wall hav ng a port passing through it, a tube communicating with the player action for actuating it, said tube communicating with the primary chamher and communicating with the storage chamber through said port, a valve for controlling said port, said wall having a second opening, a diaphragm over said second opening, and'a yieldable connection between said diaphragm and said valve.

8. A pumping system for player actions having a duct leading to the player action for operating it, a primary chamber communicating with said duct, a pump for creating tension in said primary chamber, a storage chamber having a port leading to the primary chamber, a valve adapted to control said port, a diaphragm responsive to the diiference in tension between the primary chamber and the storage chamber, and connections between said diaphragm and said valve whereby when the-tension in the primary chamber exceeds the tension in. the storage chamber, said diaphragm element will be caused to move in a direction to close the valve.

9. A pumping system for player actions having a duct leading to the player action for operating it, a primary chamber communicating with said duct, a pump for creating tension in said primary chamber, a storage chamber having a port leading to the primary chamber, a valve adapted to control said port, a movable element responsive to the difference in tension between the primary chamber and the storage chamber, connections between said movable element and said valve whereby when the tension in the primary chamber exceeds the tension in the storage chamber, said movable element will be caused to move in a direction to close the valve, said valve being of the puppet type and so placed that an increase in tension in the primary chamber tends to open said valve, and yielding connections between said valve and said movable element.

10. A pumping system for player actions having a primary chamber, an exhaust pump for creating tension therein, a tube com municating with the player action for actuating it, said tube also communicating with the said primary chamber, a storage chamber, a valve chamber in front of said storage chamber and having a port leading to the storage chamber, said tube communicating with said storage chamber through said valve chamber and port, a valve for controlling said port, and a diaphragm responsive to variations in tension between the valve chamber and the storage chamber for actuating said valve.

11. A pumping system for player actions having a primary chamber, an exhaust pump for creating tension therein, a tube communicating with the player action for actuating it, said tube also communicating with said primary chamber, a storage chamber, a valve chamber in front of said storage chamber and having a port leading to the storage chamber, said tube communicating with said storage chamber through said valve chamber and port, a valve for controlling said port, and a movable element responsive to variations in tension between the valve chamber and the storage chamber for actuating said valve, said valve chamber having a removable cover in front and the valve and the movable element being located in said valve chamber whereby they are readily accessible from the front when the cover is open.

12. A player piano action having a high tension primary chamber Communicating with the key operating mechanism, a pump for exhausting the air from said chamber, a storage chamber, a wall having on one side the high tension and the other side the low tension air, said wall having a port in it for normally equalizing the air tension in the two chambers, a valve, yieldable means for normally holding said valve open, and pneumatic means exposed on opposite sides to the high and low tension and adapted to close the valve in case of a sudden rise in tension in the primary chamber, said valve opening toward the high tension primary chamber and the connection between the valve and said pneumatic means being yieldable whereby the valve may open against the force of said pneumatic means in case the difference in tension between the two chambers becomes excessive.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

RAY W. SCOTT. 

